Local pitcher/Astros fan thrilled to picked by hometown team

Tuesday turned into a fun afternoon at the Rodgers household in Richmond when pitcher Brady Rodgers was selected in the third round by his favorite team.

“I was a little shocked to hear the Astros drafted me — my favorite team,” said Rodgers, who attended Lamar Consolidated High School and continued to watch Astros games on MLB.tv after moving to Arizona. “It brought tears to my eyes.

“The family is real pumped not just to see me go to the Astros but to see me start my career,” he said. “Being drafted by the Astros is just the cherry on top.”

He was 10-3 with a 2.27 ERA for the Sun Devils, earning him first-team All Pac-12 honors.

“He’s a four-pitch strike thrower,” assistant GM of scouting Bobby Heck said. “It’s a command fastball, but it’s also an average major league fastball, and there’s a lot to be said for that for a player of his experience.”

Fourth-rounder potential steal

The Astros took a big chance in the fourth round, taking California high school third baseman Rio Ruiz, who was seen as a potential first-round talent but missed most of his senior season because of a blood clot near his neck. But his health is fine now, and he was able to attend the Astros’ workout in Los Angeles.

“My strength is back; everything’s back. It’s just the fact that I’m on blood thinners,” Ruiz said. “There’s only so much I can do with what happened, and the only thing I can do right now is take my medicine and follow what my doctors say, and that’s what I’m doing.”

According to his hometown paper, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Ruiz’s camp had been telling teams it was looking for top-10-pick money, and while he declined to go into further specifics, Ruiz does say there’s a price.

“There’s a lot of factors going into it,” Ruiz said of his decision between college and the pros. “I think me and my family have come up with some stuff that will buy us out of an education at (Southern Cal), and ultimately, it’s what they have to offer.”

Draft tidbits

Assistant GM of scouting Bobby Heck said second-round pick Nolan Fontana profiles as a shortstop, but if that’s ever out of the equation, second base is a possibility. …
Jeff Luhnow’s thoughts after two days: “This has a chance to be one of those drafts that we look back at and say this has a chance to be a spectacular draft.”

Odds and ends

Jose Altuve, who ranked fifth among National League second basemen, was the only Astro in the top five at his position on the initial release of All-Star ballot totals. Voting runs through June 28. … Brad Mills announced that Bud Norris is ready to go for his start Wedneday after suffering some hip flexor pain in his last outing. … Outfielder Jordan Schafer was out of the starting lineup after an illness sent him home for a few hours before he returned the game.

Klein Collins shortstop C.J. Hinojosa, right, was taken in the 26th round by the Astros. His teammate Austin Dean, left, went much higher, No. 137 overall to the Marlins.

Klein Collins shortstop C.J. Hinojosa, right, was taken in the 26th round by the Astros. His teammate Austin Dean, left, went much higher, No. 137 overall to the Marlins.

Photo: Jerry Baker / For the Chronicle

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Austin Elkins, right, of Dallas Baptist University hit .344 in 56 games for the Patriots this season. The Astros made him their 19th-round pick, No. 579 overall.

Austin Elkins, right, of Dallas Baptist University hit .344 in 56 games for the Patriots this season. The Astros made him their 19th-round pick, No. 579 overall.

Photo: Jose Yau / Associated Press

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The Astros took catcher M.P. Cokinos in the 31st round Wednesday. After starring at Houston's Memorial High School, Cokinos played at the University of Houston before transferring to St. Mary's University. less

The Astros took catcher M.P. Cokinos in the 31st round Wednesday. After starring at Houston's Memorial High School, Cokinos played at the University of Houston before transferring to St. Mary's ... more

Photo: Bob Levey / For The Chronicle

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Student and baseball player Carlos Correa attends a press conference in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being selected by the Houston Astros as No. 1 in the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick from Puerto Rico. less

Student and baseball player Carlos Correa attends a press conference in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being ... more

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo / Associated Press

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Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, is surrounded by classmates upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being selected by the Houston Astros as No. 1 in the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick from Puerto Rico. less

Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, is surrounded by classmates upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the ... more

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo / Associated Press

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Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, is greeted by classmates upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being selected by the Houston Astros as No. 1 in the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick from Puerto Rico. less

Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, is greeted by classmates upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the ... more

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo / Associated Press

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Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, signs an autograph on a ball at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being selected by the Houston Astros as No. 1 in the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick from Puerto Rico. less

Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, center, signs an autograph on a ball at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging ... more

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo / Associated Press

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Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, top right, gestures in celebration upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the 17-year-old slugging shortstop made hometown history on Monday after being selected by the Houston Astros as No. 1 in the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick from Puerto Rico. less

Student and baseball player Carlos Correa, top right, gestures in celebration upon his arrival to the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Correa, the ... more

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo / Associated Press

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The Astros made 17-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa the first-overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft.

The Astros made 17-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa the first-overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft.

Photo: Courtesy of Puerto Rico Academy

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Correa is the highest selection to come from Puerto Rico.

Correa is the highest selection to come from Puerto Rico.

Photo: Courtesy of Puerto Rico Academy

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The Astros selected 2012 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year Lance McCullers Jr. with the 41st pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. McCullers went 13-0 with a 0.18 ERA with 140 strikeouts and only 30 walks and 28 hits in 77 1/3 innings as a senior. less

The Astros selected 2012 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year Lance McCullers Jr. with the 41st pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. McCullers went 13-0 with a 0.18 ERA with 140 strikeouts and only 30 walks ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Lance McCullers Jr. poses with three-time MLB All-Star and current MLB Network broadcaster Sean Casey after receiving the Gatorade award. His father, Lance Sr., was a second-round selection of the Phillies in 1982. less

Lance McCullers Jr. poses with three-time MLB All-Star and current MLB Network broadcaster Sean Casey after receiving the Gatorade award. His father, Lance Sr., was a second-round selection of the Phillies in ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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With the first pick of the second round, the Astros took Florida shortstop Nolan Fontana, seen scoring against Vanderbilt during the Southeastern Conference tournament on May 24.

With the first pick of the second round, the Astros took Florida shortstop Nolan Fontana, seen scoring against Vanderbilt during the Southeastern Conference tournament on May 24.

Photo: Dave Martin / Associated Press

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Brady Rodgers pitched for Lamar Consolidated before going to Arizona State. A lifelong Astros fan, he was taken by the team in the third round.

Brady Rodgers pitched for Lamar Consolidated before going to Arizona State. A lifelong Astros fan, he was taken by the team in the third round.

Photo: Rob Schumacher / Rob Schumacher/The Republic

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Rio Ruiz of Bishop Amat High School in Southern California was the Astros fifth-round pick. He is coming off a health scare where he developed a blood clot but is healthy again. He is committed to USC but the Astros hope to sign this power-hitting third baseman. less

Rio Ruiz of Bishop Amat High School in Southern California was the Astros fifth-round pick. He is coming off a health scare where he developed a blood clot but is healthy again. He is committed to USC but the ... more

Photo: Larry Goren / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Andrew Aplin, left, was chosen in the fifth round by the Astros. The Arizona State outfielder is a California native and batted .313 for the Sun Devils this season.

Andrew Aplin, left, was chosen in the fifth round by the Astros. The Arizona State outfielder is a California native and batted .313 for the Sun Devils this season.

Photo: Deirdre Hamill / Deirdre Hamill/The Republic

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Florida's Preston Tucker was taken in the seventh round. Tucker is a 6 foot, 220-pound outfielder for the Gators. He was drafted in the 16th round last year by the Rockies and he improved his stock significantly this year. His biggest asset is power, and it is in evidence here in this two-run home run against Georgia Tech on June 2. less

Florida's Preston Tucker was taken in the seventh round. Tucker is a 6 foot, 220-pound outfielder for the Gators. He was drafted in the 16th round last year by the Rockies and he improved his stock ... more